Make-and-break sparker for internal-combustion engines.



Witnesses:

- Elihu. Thomson;

. v THOMSON. MAKE AND B BAK' P RKER roR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

- "I FPIIIVUATIOIK FILED wen-17, 190 .Patented Dacia 1911 Fig. I.

Inventor? E. THOMSON; MAKE AND BREAK SPARKER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

' Patnted Dec. 5

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17 1907. 1 ,0]. O,

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V v E. THOMSON, K MAKE AND BREAK SPARKBR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIOAII'ION FILED AOG. 17, 1907- Patented Dec. 5, 191.1.

a SHEETS-SHEET s.

El 1L7! Thomson,

I nve'ntor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU THOMSON, or swnmrsccr'r, nnssacnusnrrs. Ass'xeguon 'ro saunas; nreo'rnro COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW our,

MAKE-AND-BBEAK SPABKER FOR INTEENAL-CQMBUSTIQN ENGINES,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec, 5, 1911.

Application filed August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,979.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIHU THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Make-and- Break Sparkers for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ignition appa-' ratus for engines operated by explosive vapor, and its object is to improve the devicesin which a spark is produced by the mechanical separation of two terminals of an electric circuit; commonly termed makeand-break sparkers. Although this type of sparker' is recognized 'as'the most reliable,

so far as the positive production of the spark is concerned, yet in its ordinary operation there is always more or lessdi culty in connecting the moving elements of the sparker, located inside the cylinder, with the engine shaft or other actuating mecha nism outside thecylinder. a packed joint of some kind at the point where the operating rod orrock-shaft passes through the cylinder wall or head, and such a joint, exposed as it is tothe hot gases of' explosion, is very liable to leak and give trouble. Another objection to this type of sparker is that any warping or changing-of position of the levers, connecting rods and other parts whenheated, is apt to change the adjustment and cause the spark either inspected and replaced. I

The object of my invention is to obviate to come at the wrong time, 'or perhaps to fail entirely.

While the ordinary jump-spark plug is liable to become-Booted up or burned out, yet it; has'this great convenience, viz.. that it can be screwed firmly-into the cylinder wall or head, forming a tight joint with no moving parts, and furthermore it can-be readily the objections to the inak-a'nd-break sparker and place it practically on a par, so'far as convenience is concerned, with the jumpspark plu a jump-spark plug. g

Tty this end the invention consists in a plug adapted to be screwed into the ordinary tapped spark plug hole in the cylinder, said plug containing a movable abut There must be By the construction I have designed," a'm enabled also to applya makeand-break sparker to enginesdesigned for.

ment, preferably a flexible metal diaphragm insulated from the plug and carrying one of the two separable contacts by whose separasaid devices comprising {preferably an intermitt-ently operated abutment effecting a' pulsating movement of a column of'liquid resting on said diaphragm; all as hereinafter set forth in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic representation ofa four cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with my sparking devicey-FiggQ sectional elevation of the impulse mech- .anism; Fig. 3 is'a sectional elevation of one of'the spark-plugs; Fig. 4: 1s a slmllarviewof a modifiedspark plug; Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the impulse mechanism; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the timing inecha-' nism or distributor; and Fig. 7is a section on the line'77, Fig. 3, partly broken away.

Referring first to Figs. 3', 4 and 7, it will be seen that the spark-plug consists of a central portion containing a chamber and tubular portions extending in opposite directions from said body. For convenience of manufacture this structure is made in three parts. to wit, 'a body 1 having at one" end a circular flange 2 andatthe other end a central screw-threaded projection 3 of smaller diameter and preferably slightly tapered; a circular m 4 having its edge screw-threaded ahdpro'vide d with a central upright neck 5: and a ring or union 6 h'aving' internal screw-threads to, mesh with those on the edge of the top, and an mternal as f flange 7 to engage with the flange 3 on the body 1. The projection 3 is screwed into the tapped spark-plug holein the cylinder in the usual manner, the body lbeing prefer ably made polygonal 'toreceivefia w'renchfor this purpose/ i 2 Between the body and the top is a space the diaphragm through a hole in the top 4,

from which it is insulated by a bushing12 of insulation. Projecting from the lower end of the screw-threaded projection 3 is a lug 113 to which is secured a contact 14, preferably a silver or platinum. pin. Cooperating there- V with is a similar contact 15, carried at the 1n the cylinder, I

lower end of a rod 16 which passes down through a suitable passageway 17 in said body 1 and projection 3. The upper end of the rod is in operative relation to the diaphragm. Thus, for instance, it may be directly secured thereto, as shown in Fig." 4. 01', again, it may be pivoted to a strip of metal 18 secured to the edge of the dia;

phragm, as shown in Fig. 3, and have a short arm 19, substantially at right angles to said rod, bearing against the underside of said diaphragm at or near its center. In any event, the connection is such that the two contacts 14, 15 are normally closed, but when the diaphragm is buckled downward, the two contacts are briskly separated and a spark is produced.

As the passageway 17 exposes the diaphragm to the full force of'the explosion rovide means for suppglrting 1t-at.that time, comprising preferit an er side of the top 4, against which the upper surface of the diaphragm will abut w en the explosion takes place. In its normal positien,.the diaphragm does not quite touch the ribs, since to do so would shortcircuit the contacts.

- The circuit of the contacts should contain sufficient self-induction or have voltage enough to produce a good spark upon the suddenopening ofthe contacts. The times oisen'ding current through the contacts may be regulated, as usual, by arevolving timer, but the formation of the spark is effected 'the bulging or buckling :of. the diab pliragm. A great variety of mechanical de vices for actuating the diaphragm may be used, but I refer to employ a column of inelastic flui such as oil, resting on the upper-"side of said diaphragm,- impulses being communicated to.- said column by some suitable means. I use an oil of high boiling-- point and of not too great viscosity. It comspace above the diaphragm inthe ofthe neck 5 by a union 22.

umn. nism for this purpose, I have shown a mova series of radial ribs 20. formed on the shown in device" and a branch pipes The pipe is preferably made of flexible strong material, such as copper, and is of small bore, so that it may be'dealt with as a wire would be. I

The pipe 21 connects with a device for producing sudden impulses in the fluid col- As illustrative of a suitable mechaable abutment, such as a piston 23, working in'a cylinder 24 to which said pipe is connected, The cylinder is preferably immersed in an oil tank 25, and at the upper end of each stroke of the piston a port 26 is uncovered, admitting oil from the tank to supply any deficiency in the pipe due to leaks or changes of volume arising from contraction or expansion. The port 26 also affords an escape for any gas bubbles which may exist. 1

The piston is pivotally connected toa lever 27 fulcrumed at 28 in the tank and urged downward by a powerful spring 29, whose tension can be adjusted by a compression screw 29 tapped through the lid of the tank. The free end of the lever rests upona cam 30 mounted on a shaft 31 which passes 'out through the wall of the tank and is geared to the engine shaft 32 by gears a u- 33, 34. The cam is so formed that it ally raises the free end ofthe lever unti upon reaching a certain point the lever is reeased. During the lifting of the piston the oil fills the pipe, and when the lever is released the spring impels the piston downward very suddenly and gives a vigorous impulse-tothe fluid i the pipe, thereby actuating the diaphrag and producing the spark; The timing of the spark can be controlled by timing the movements of the piston. This can be readily accomplished by mounting the gear .34 on a. sleeve 35having an inclined slot 36 engaging with a pin 37 in the shaft 31. A grooved collar 38 on said sleeve is engaged by a fork 39 on a lever 40, whereby the sleeve can he slid lengthwise on the shaft. In so doing, the'pin and slot cause the shaft 31 to shift angularly with, reference to the sleeve, and thus the relative adjustment of the'engine shaft and the cam is altered, and the time of thespa'rk with reference to the revolution of the ena. plurality of separate impulse devices, one

I prefer. the arrangement igs. 1 and .6, where one im ulse le pipe are connec by w i ii the several spark-plugs. The cam which operates the impulse device for each cylinder,

has a plurality of 3035 11118 for each spark plug; (or a single-teed cam at a hlgher p and e r re ai isrhrssm i spark-plugs.

all respond simultaneously to every impulse sent through the pipe. But by means of a suitable distributer the current is sent to the spark-plugs in regular order, and only that plug whlch has current at the instant the impulse reaches it canproduce a spark. The

a battery 45, is in circuit with the contactarm 43. The sleeve 35 which carries the gear 34 may'also carry the arm 43, so that the circuit to each spark-plug will be closed earlier or later in exact relation with the sparking mechanism.

It will 'be seen that-this make-and-break spark-plug can be easily removed for examination or replacement by another, it being only necessary to unscrew the union of the impulse pipe, and perhaps to disconnect 'the electric conductors. Or, if'the electric connection is retained and the impulse pipe is again. connected to the plug after its removal from the cylinder, the engine can be started and the operation of the plug observed, and corrected if necessary returning it to its working position.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

' 1. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising a movable insulated abutment, sparking contacts controlled thereby, and means for imparting impulses to said abutment from a source out side of said cylinder.

before 2. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of tt removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith for separating said contacts by a movement toward the cylinder, and means for imparting such movement thereto from a source outside of said cylinder.

3. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movfor separating said contacts by a movement toward the cylinder, a cam revolving in syn- A source'of current, such as chronism with said engine, a lever actuated by said cam, and means for imparting the impulses of said lever to the outside of said abutment. a i

5. The combination with the cylinder of .an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively. mov able sparkingcontacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith for separating said contacts by amovement toward the cylinder, a column of fluid in contact with the outside of said abutment, and means for imparting impulses to said fluid column. a

6. The combination with the cylinder of ad internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith for separating said contacts by a movementtoward the cylinder, a column of fluid resting on the outside of said abutmentyand an intermittently operated piston for imparting impulses to said fluid column.

7. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith forseparating said contacts by a movement toward the cylinder, an oil tank, a pump therein, a pipe connected to said pump with the outside of said abutment, and a cam.

for operating said pump.

8. The combination with a multicylinder internal combustion engine, of aspark-plug for each cylinder comprising a 'movable abutment and sparking contacts controlled thereby, a fluid-filled pipe having branches leading to the outside of said abut-ments, an impulse device driven by the. engine and operating upon the fluid in saidpipe, and means for distributing current to said sparkplugs.

- 9. The combination with a Inulticylinder internal combustion engine, of a spark-plug for each cylinder comprising a movable abutment and sparking contacts controlled thereby, a fluid-filled pipe having branches leading to the outside of said abutments, an

impulse device driven by the engine andin operative relation thereto for imparting such impulses, and means for making electrical connection with said diaphragm.

' for separating said contacts by a movement- 11. A make-and-break spark-plug comprising a body adapted to screw into an engine'cylinder, and containing a longitudinal passageway, a stationarygcontact on said body, a top having a tubular neck, a ring for uniting said body and top, an insulated diaphragm clamped between said body and top, a binding-post on said diaphragm insulated from said top, and a rod carrying a movable contact and extending through said passageway, said rod being in operative relation to said diaphragm.

12-. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith toward the cylinder, a column of fluid resting on the outside of said abutment, an intermittently operated piston for imparting impulses to said fluid-column, and means for automatically maintaining the, quantity of fluid in .the column substantially constant. 4

13. The combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, a movable insulated abutment in operative relation therewith column, a: casing surrounding the piston,

fluid therein, and means for permitting a flow between the fluid in the casing and the v fluidin the column.

14. The combination with the cylinder; of an internal combustion engine of a removable spark-plug comprising relatively movable sparking contacts, an abutment in 0perative relation therewith movable toward and away from the cylinder for separating said, contacts by a movement toward the cylinder, a column of fluid resting on the outside of said abutment, a piston imparting impulsesto said fluid column,"a casing surrounding the piston, fluid therein, and a port in the piston open during a portion of the stroke of the piston permitting a, flow between the fluid in the casing and the fluid in the column. i

In witness whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of August, 1907.'

ELIHU THOMSON. Witnesses:

ALEX. F. MACDONALD, JOHN A. MCMANUS, Jr.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. O. 

